Skip to content

Limitless Information Causes Political Polarization

While providing individuals with the choice of a multitude of sources of information is meant to propel them towards the truth, the outcomes, however, denote the contrary. Taking its cue from research conducted by Manshadi, Gad Allon from the University of Pennsylvania, and Kimon Drakopoulos from the University of Southern California, this article on Yale Insights by Dylan Walsh explains how the availability of limitless information causes political polarization across the globe.

While the infinitude of information is supposed to provide individuals with diverse perspectives and thereby impart clarity, it often results in a phenomenon termed “confirmation bias,” the article states. The outcomes of the study denote that with illimitable sources at their disposal, people are often forced to narrow down their choices. Since it is practically impossible to go through every post or page there, the article explains that their choice of the source of information is, therefore, often influenced by their preconceived notions thereby highlighting how limitless information causes political polarization. This means that people reading up on a particular topic will prefer opting for the sources that specifically align with their own views, a bias that Manshadi and others seek to obliterate through their model taking into account especially how limitless information causes political polarization.

Back To Top